Fabien Guérin

Heat builds FAR too quickly, cops are too hard, spawn everywhere, and the only solutions to those problema are prohibitively expensive during the early game when they are arguably most useful. The game is clearly built for and tested by HARDcore NFS fans. This game is NOT welcoming to new players or those returning after avoiding the past few cop-avoiding (sorry, "racing") simulators. The base systems (controls, *engine* upgrades, etc.) are sufficiently explained, but EVERYTHING else (including using auxillary parts) is taught to you through...loading screen hints. NFS needs to stop relying on PS2-era solutions to racing balance and player-onboarding. An arcade racing game doesn't need to alienate it's newest players in order to be an arcade racing game. The drifting is literally some of the worst I've ever experienced in a racing game. The only redeeming quality is that the courses are well-laid out and the map is—when you have no heat—fun to drive. I would avoid this game if it's your first NFS.